This post brought to you by Christina Wood of Pixie Vacations, the preferred Disney vacation travel planner of The Disney Blog.
If you’re looking for a fun alternative to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Magic Kingdom, check out The Pirate’s League, a lessor-known makeover that’s just as fun and costs about half as much. Prices run from $30 to $80; higher prices include a costume, but that’s optional. Girls can be pirates of any variety they choose, or they can be a dramatic pirate Empress, with elaborate make up and stick-on “jewels” on their faces. You can also get a mermaid makeover, which is very elaborate and includes scales and a pretty hairdo!
The Pirate’s League is located right next to Pirates of the Caribbean and it’s open every day of the year from 9:00 am to around 5:00 pm. You’ll want to make reservations well in advance to get a convenient time that works around your dining and fastpasses. It’s decorated exactly like you would expect–if pirates had a salon they regularly visited for makeovers.
There are lots of pirate “artifacts’ and of course, treasures, decorating the place, as well as a few secrets you’ll have to find out about later (we had to promise, pirate’s honor, that we wouldn’t tell).
My daughter chose the mermaid package, which starts at $35. We also bought the costume, a t-shirt and skirt made of tulle, which brought the total up to $75. The cast members at the Pirate’s League are great about engaging your little mermaid or pirate, telling them stories about life on the high seas and plundering treasure. I noticed these cast members, just like the ones at Bibbidi Bobidi Boutique, are really good about figuring out what each kid likes, so they can adjust how they approach him or her and what type of stories they tell.
You can’t see it in these pictures, but the little necklace and flower in her hair turn color in the sunlight; she loved that part. I thought the “scales” were really clever and the whole thing just made her day. It was expensive and a one-time only thing, but I felt that there was value in this experience, not that I was being overcharged.
As a side note, the makeup was just enough–not too heavy and not difficult to get off at the end of the day. I’d definitely recommend this for girls who don’t want all the heavy hair spray and make up at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. And I guess I should mention here that grown ups can do the experience too.
My verdict: A perfect plus for a magical day for your son or daughter. Make reservations by calling – 407-WDW-CREW.
What do you think? Will you be planning a trip to The Pirates League on your next trip?
Christina Wood of 
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